Right in the heart of Knoxville, Tennessee sits a natural wonder, the World’s Fair Park! The abandoned Louisville and Nashville Railroad Yard was demolished to become the 70-acre site of the first ever World’s Fair in the South in 1982. The fair hosted over 87,000 people on its opening day! President Ronald Reagan opened the fair at the Court of Flags on May 1st of that year. The fair officially closed five months later on October 1. Over 11 million people from all across the world traveled to Knoxville to attend the fair in its run.
The Sunsphere
The Sunsphere was constructed in 1981 for the World’s Fair. It stands at 266 feet high and 26 stories tall. The 4th floor offers a 360-degree view of the city. Festival Lawn is two acres of specialized turf that was designed to withstand any crowd. The lawn is centrally located in the park as a favorite location for festival promoters.
The Festival Lawn
The Festival Lawn is bordered by native plants on one side and by a tree lined plaza on the other. The Court of Flags Fountain is located on the northern end of the lawn.
The Performance Lawn
The Performance Lawn is greater in size than two football fields. It is a carefully maintained open area that provides a natural amphitheater-like setting perfect for concerts, festivals, parties and other special events.
The Tennessee Amphitheatre
The Tennessee Amphitheater was built during the 1982 World’s Fair. The Sunsphere and the Tennessee Amphitheater are the only structures that remain from the 1982 World’s Fair.
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More Information
World’s Fair Park is located at 963 World’s Fair Park Drive Knoxville, TN 37916. Lisa Belleman is the proud event coordinator at hand. You can call them at 865-215-8160 or fill out their Contact Us Form on their website for more information!
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